On a cold January afternoon in 2023 in South Philadelphia — 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy endured a sinking feeling that the signal caller across sideline — who immersed in jubilation — would feel two weeks later in the Super Bowl. The Eagles had defeated the 49ers 31–7 — and Purdy had to thus wade through not only the Eagles celebration but also a completely torn UCL.
And Purdy did navigate through it. After surgery, rehabilitation, the very real possibility of San Francisco signing Tom Brady — Purdy was back. The following season — Purdy would take the 49ers all the way to the Super Bowl — and a loss the the same Kansas City Chiefs who would edge out the Eagles just a year earlier (nothing like sweet revenge in 2025.)
Move over, Jalen Hurts. The 49ers believe in their own franchise signal caller who they are confident can lead them not only to a Super Bowl — but past the Eagles in the NFC to get there. Right now in the NFC — that Super Bowl goes through Philadelphia.
If you are an NFC team making plans for the 2025–2026 season — then you are planning on how to beat the Eagles. How to come out on top during a chilly winter showdown in South Philly. Kansas City — who wouldn’t have to come to Philadelphia in the playoffs — are even hoping that an opening Day in Brazil can be the start of another championship run. (Don’t count on it, Andy.)
This past week — San Francisco and Purdy agreed to a 5-year, $265 Million extension with $181 million fully guaranteed. The deal bumps Jalen’t Hurts previous contract back to #11 on the highest paid list of NFL quarterbacks.
The unfortunate reality for the 49ers is that Purdy is not Jalen Hurts.
Although Jalen’s five-year $255 million extension back in 2023 and this new agreement with Purdy may seem equal — let me assure you that they have one big difference. Certainly— Purdy and Hurts have both advanced their respective teams to Super Bowl. And for certain — it’s difficult to identify a Mr. Irrelevant who could be more relevant (he is quite relevant now) — after being selected with the 262nd pick in 2021.
But while Kyle Shanahan has molded an offense around Purdy — that offense which has already lost Deebo Samuel this offseason — isn’t nearly as potent as the Eagles. While Philadelphia’s offensive potency is derived from it’s skill position players —the pace of it’s fluidity is directed by Hurts.
But Jalen Hurts is not just the best quarterback in all of Philadelphia football history — he’s one of the best in the league. He’s not just a part of the Eagles high-flying offense — he is the offense. The Eagles may have won a Super Bowl this season primarily with Saquon Barkley’s athleticism at the fore-front — but Jalen Hurts is it’s Maestro. Only three active starting quarterbacks currently in the NFL have started two Super Bowls; Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts.
Much like the NFC Championship Game of 2023 — with Purdy and Hurts in a duel for the NFC crown— Jalen will always come out on top. There is little doubt that Brock Purdy was certainly worthy of higher than a last round selection.
But Jalen Hurts — now he has always been first-round talent.
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